Last night I had a terrifying experience. I was walking along a dark secluded path alone when this motorist rode pass by. He took a glimpse at me and he started to trail me. At first I thought he was going to rob me as I was holding a huge bag. There was quite some money inside so naturally I was more worried about my money. 
The motorist stopped at the dark alley in front of me and got down from his bike. I thought to myself, ‘Oh no, he’s gonna rob me!’ I was terrified. I don’t know what I was thinking but I walked straight into that dark alley. I tried to stay on the other side of the road, and I walked really quickly. As I walked pass him, I was glad he didn’t seem to be approaching me for my bag. But to my horror, he was making funny noises. Let’s just say that they were sexually suggestive noises. I was even more terrified than before.
I started praying to God for protection and I didn’t dare to look his way. I had a feeling he was taking off his pants or something. I just walked as quickly as my legs would carry me. Thank God I managed to walk out of that dark alley!
As I walked into a more well-lighted area, I thought my nightmare was over. But very soon, I heard the sound of his motorbike again. I was really scared. I took out my handphone and pretended to be calling someone. That kind of turned him away. I looked at the road ahead of me and to my dismay, it was yet another darker and longer alley. I dare not walk into that place with the man trailing near me. So I decided to take a longer route, but a well-lit one.
The man rode off into the dark alley, and again I thought my nightmare was over. I stopped pretending to talk on the phone and walked quickly towards my destination. As I turned that corner, I caught a glimpse of him and his motorbike again! Although there was light, the whole street was empty. I was terrified.
As I walked past him yet another time, my heart was racing. This time, he was very bold. He tried to approach me, and he asked me again and again whether I wanted to have sex with him! I pretended not to hear, and I dare not look towards his direction at all. I just walked and walked and walked. And I prayed and prayed and prayed in my heart for this nightmare to end. I was so scared he would rape me or something. Thank God I managed to reach a street where there were at least some people around.
I looked ahead and saw another stretch of lonely street. My heart was racing by now, and I just wanted to run all the way back towards my destination. I must have walked really quickly because I did manage to reach my destination before he caught up with me again.
As I walked in, I gave thanks to God. Finally I am safe.
That night, I had no peace. I kept picturing the dark alleys and his shadow in the corner. I kept hearing the strange noises he made and his voice asking me for sex. This must be the most horrifying sexual harassment I have encountered. I couldn’t fall asleep that night. I was really scared.
As I was lying in bed, I was really thankful that I was safe at home. Secure, and untouchable. I thought about many girls who are homeless, and many others who have been sexually abused. I could not imagine how they managed to cope with the trauma.
I learnt my lesson. I will NEVER walk alone into a dark alley again. Next time I will get someone to accompany me, or wait in a crowded place until someone comes to get me. This time round, I just wanted to make things easier for others, thus I decided to walk alone. Next time, I know it is much more wise to have someone with me, even if it means that I have to trouble them.
I wasn’t even wearing revealing clothing or anything seductive. I was wearing a long-sleeve shirt and jeans and ballet flats. I’m so thankful I wasn’t in my dress or heels. It is incidents like this that make me thankful to God for not making me too beautiful. It is times like this that I actually am very grateful for my ugliness.
I want to advice all my female friends to always protect yourself. Don’t wear seductive clothing, don’t go out at night alone, don’t go to dark places or empty streets. Always have your phone handy and use it to scare your predators away. And whatever you do, don’t entertain your predators, don’t look at them, don’t listen to a word they say. Ignore them for any action or reaction from your part may turn them on even more. If you know someone is trailing you, always head for the place with bright lights and more people.
I was a total fool for not calling for help. I didn’t even tell anyone about my horrifying experience, until now. I don’t want people to be worried. Anyway I am safe for now. Thank God for that. A lady prayed for my safety a few days ago. I think it was that prayer that kept me safe. Please continue to pray for protection over me and pray that I can get over the trauma soon.
hiyo gal, I’m sorry to hear that you have a terrible experience. Anyway just to let you know that there are strange people like that lurking in our environment which is kinda scary. And as you realise there are perverts in sg and I have met my fair share. In fact the majority of perverts actually tend to bully girls who are decently dressed. It seems as if they get a kick from getting easy “prey”. From my own experience when I’m dressed less conservatively the most they do is whistle and I wasn’t propositioned save for once when I was wearing a knee length dress with a high slit this stupid guy asked How Much and when I ignored him he called me a bitch. Some people can be real a**holes. It seems that when I’m dressed decently I get more werid people honking their horns, making strange comments or stopping their cars coz there are times I walk alone on the pavement beside a road at night. In any case it’s safer for us women to not walk alone in deserted areas. And anyway you are not ugly. Normally sex perverts and rapists don’t care about appearances and they just want to exert their crazy urges and control over vulnerable women. I think all these perverts should be locked up somewhere. Looks like we have to take self defence classes to protect ourselves too.